The identity of Donbass in the perception of Ukrainian political analysts (2014–2022) and the construction of the image of the enemy
https://doi.org/10.24975/2313-8920-2024-11-4-301-311
Abstract
The relevance of the research topic is manifested in the fact that the strengthening of the Russian identity of the residents of Donbass is taking place in the context of an information war with Ukrainian nationalism. It is important to understand how Ukrainian political analytics constructs the image of the enemy. The aim of the work is to identify and criticize the myths about the identity of Donbass, constructed in Ukrainian political analytics (2014–2022). The theoretical basis of the study is a systematic approach, an identitarian approach, and social constructivism. Empirical methods: text analysis and discourse analysis. The selection of sources of Ukrainian political analytics includes texts published by the staff of the Institute of Political and Ethnonational Studies named after I.F. Kuras and the National Institute for Strategic Studies (Kiev) for 2014–2022. Тhe main aspects of constructing the image of the enemy and using the “language of hostility” are established: Russophobia, rejection of the Orthodox and East Slavic self-identification common to Russians and Ukrainians, falsification of historical facts, association of Donbass and its history exclusively with crime, marginality, separatism. These discursive techniques use by Ukrainian analysts in scientific texts in the external form of presentation, but they are aimed at defamation of the enemy and his ideological disarmament, therefore, they are one of the technologies of information warfare. In order to increase the effectiveness of the Russian identity policy in Donbass, it is necessary to form a picture of the world of the inhabitants of the region based on a positive perception of the history of Russia and the traditional values of Russian civilization, qualified and timely exposure of the myths of Ukrainian nationalist propaganda. The authors propose to organize an expert and analytical organization in the South of Russia on the subject of Ukrainian historical and socio-political studies.
About the Authors
A. V. Baranov
Kuban State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Andrey V. Baranov, Doctor of political sciences, doctor of historical sciences
b.149 Stavropol st., Krasnodar, 350040
Yu. V. Kostenko
Kuban State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Yulia V. Kostenko, candidate of political sciences
b.149 Stavropol st., Krasnodar, 350040
References
1. Ethnic groups and social boundaries: The social organization of cultural differences / ed. by F. Barth. Moscow: New Publishing House; 2006. 198 p. (In Rus.).
2. Wodak R., De Cillia R., Reisigl M., Liebhart K. The Discursive Construction of National Identity (Critical Discource Analysis). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; 2009. 288 p.
3. Kuzio T. Identity and Nation-Building in Ukraine: Defining the “Other”. Ethnicities. 2001;1(3):343–365.
4. Ukraine: The Process of National creation / ed. by A. Kappeler. Kyiv: K.I.S.; 2011. 416 p. (In Ukr.).
5. Henke N. Identity and Nation-Building in Ukraine: Reconciliation of Identities from a Conflict Prevention Perspective: ECMI Research Paper № 125. Flensburg, 2020. 31 p.
6. Sasse G., Lackner A. War and Identity: the Сase of the Donbas in Ukraine. Post-Soviet Affairs. 2018;34(2):1–19.
7. Kudelia S., van Zyl J. In My Name: The Impact of Regional Identity on Civilian Attitudes in the Armed Conflict in Donbas. Nationalities Papers. 2019;47(5):801–821.
8. Savoskul S.S. Russians of the new abroad: The choice of fate. Moscow: Nauka; 2001. 437 p. (In Rus.).
9. Grigoryants V.E., Zhiltsov S.S., Ishin A.V., Malgin A.V. Federalization of Ukraine: towards unity through diversity. Moscow: East – West; 2011. 228 p. (In Rus.).
10. Stavitsky A.V. The national historical myth of Ukraine. Sevastopol: Ribest; 2015. 748 p. (In Rus.).
11. Nemensky O.B. The evolution of Russian and Ukrainian identities in Ukraine after Euromaidan. Issues of nationalism. 2015;4(24): 26-34. (In Rus.).
12. Shatilo I.S. Novorossiya as a historical reality and a political project. Power. 2015;2:38-44. (In Rus).
13. Baranov A.V. The political identity of Novorossiya: design status and resources. The Caspian region: politics, economy, culture. 2015;2(43):98-106. (In Rus.).
14. Marchukov A.V. Novorossiya. Formation of national identities (XVIII – XX centuries). Moscow: Kuchkovo pole; 2018. 512 p. (In Rus.).
15. Onopko O.V., Vnukova L.B. Political symbolism and the formation of the civil identity of the population of Donbass in contemporary conditions. Paradigms of social development. 2018;10:73-78. (In Rus.).
16. Muza D.E. Russia in the system of coordinates of the global world: metaphysics, ideology, pragmatics. Moscow: Publisher Vorobyov A.V.; 2016. 232 p. (In Rus).
17. Probeygolova N.V. Myth-making technologies in the process of constructing current political reality (on the example of Ukraine, the LPR and the DPR): a civilizational approach. Journal of the Heritage Institute. 2018;2(13). (In Rus.).
18. Patriotical education in Donbass: history, theory, practice / ed. by D.E. Muza, E.V. Balko and Ya.V. Polyakova. Donetsk: Edit; 2018. 228 p. (In Rus).
19. Vnukova L.B., Vlaskina T.Y. Self-identification of Donbass residents in the context of sociopolitical views: socio-linguistic aspect. Bulletin of Tomsk State University. 2021;463:73-86. (In Rus.).
20. Tatarinov I.E., Gerasimov A.V. South Russian identity in Donbass: some features of existence in the XXI century. The Black Sea region in the context of Russian civilization: history, politics, culture. Krasnodar: Kuban State University; 2019; 537-545. (In Rus.).
21. Onopko O.V. Crimea and the Black Sea region in the political picture of the world of experts from the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine (based on the materials of analytical reports to the President’s messages to the Supreme Rada). The Caspian region: politics, economy, culture. 2020;4(65):79-84. (In Rus.).
22. Donbass and Crimea: price of return / ed. by V.P. Gorbulin, O.S. Vlasyuk, E.M. Libanova, O.M. Lyashenko. Kyiv: National Institute of Strategic Studies; 2015. 474 p. (In Ukr.).
23. Pakhomenko S., Tryma K., Francis J.A. The Russian-Ukrainian War in Donbas: Historical Memory as an Instrument of Information Warfare. The Use of Force Аgainst Ukraine and International Law. Hague: T.M.C. Asser Press; 2018:298–312.
24. Abibok Yu. On the Way to Creating the “Donbas People”. Identity Policy in the Self-Proclaimed Republics in Еast Ukraine. Centre for Eastern Studies. 2018;270:1–8.
25. Haran O., Yakovlyev M., Zolkina M. Identity, War, and Peace: Public Attitudes in the Ukraine-Сontrolled Donbas. Eurasian Geography and Economics. 2019:1–25.
26. Kuzina O.A., Sitko Y.L. Symbolic situations and the formation of myth in color revolutions. Mythologos. 2022;3:158-175. (In Rus).
27. Donbass in the ethnopolitical dimension / authors: V. Kotigorenko (head), O. Kalakura, L. Kovach et al. Kyiv: Institute of Political and Ethnonational Sciences after I.F. Kuras of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 2014. 584 p. (In Ukr.).
28. Karmazina M.S. Political identity in Ukraine: the local community of Donetsk. Kyiv: Institute of Political and Ethnonational Sciences after I.F. Kuras of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 2016. 232 p. (In Ukr.).
29. The political aspects of the crisis in Donbass: the diagnosis of the situation and the future. Analytical report / ed. by Rafalsky O.O. (head), Kotigorenko V.O., Panchuk M.I. Kyiv: Institute of Political and Ethnonational Sciences after I.F. Kuras of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 2015. 268 p. (In Ukr.).
30. Voynalovich V.A., Kochan N.I. Religious factor of ethnopolitical processes in the Donbas: history and modernity. Kyiv: Institute of Political and Ethnonational Sciences after I.F. Kuras of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; 2014. 304 p. (In Ukr.).
Review
For citations:
Baranov A.V., Kostenko Yu.V. The identity of Donbass in the perception of Ukrainian political analysts (2014–2022) and the construction of the image of the enemy. Post-Soviet Issues. 2024;11(4):301-311. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24975/2313-8920-2024-11-4-301-311
Views:
162
Email this article 